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Friday, January 13, 2017

Raniero's Pizzeria Closes, Owner Blames City

Michael Raniero loads equipment into the trailer on January 12. FTM file.

Raniero's Pizzeria, located at 90 Alexandria Pike in the Fort Thomas Plaza, permanently closed its doors Thursday after opening in March of 2016. They had previously run a business under the same name in Cold Spring, Kentucky.

That location did not receive their Alcoholic Beverage Control license.

Owner, Michael Raniero (Michael Howard), who had run the business previously with his family before restructuring to run it on his own, was operating on transitional alcohol license for 60 days in Cold Spring. He was granted a 30-day extension there, but didn’t complete the application, so it was withdrawn. The restaurant subsequently closed and reopened in Fort Thomas under the same name.

A slow start to their business in Fort Thomas led owners Raniero and Adam Lyle to lease more space next to their pizzeria, buy four pool tables and attempt to add a "rec room" that would help bring in new customers, according to Raniero.

In December they attempted to obtain a retail malt beverage drink license that would allow them to sell beer and wine at that location. The license application was heard at a public hearing at the Fort Thomas City Building and after being considered by the city of Fort Thomas, was denied.

As Fort Thomas Matters interviewed Raniero Thursday, industrial refrigerators were being moved out to a trailer, thousands of dollars of newly bought pool tables were sold privately and pictures were being taken down from inside the restaurant. Raniero, who said he blames the city for the demise of his pizza restaurant and intends to file a lawsuit against the city, was wearing a t-shirt that he had made the night before which read: "Ft. Thomas - Small Business Killer."

Michael Raniero. FTM file.

"If you're not in the clique of Fort Thomas you don't get any kind of favoritism. If you're not donating to the schools or the right causes they don't care about you," he said.

In a letter obtained by Fort Thomas Matters from the city of Fort Thomas sent to the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and signed by local official, Jennifer Machesney, the city described the reasons for the application's denial because:"(Raniero's) does not comply with all regulations of the City of Fort Thomas...specifically (the ordinance) which states that a license may be refused by the local administrator 'for any reason which he, in the exercise of sound discretion, may deem sufficient."
Further, the letter gives four specific examples for the local denial. The following are excerpts from the letter:

1) Examination of background checks obtained by members of (Raniero's), which show extensive criminal records, including, but not limited to: weapons charges, burglary charges and one active warrant. 2) Conversations with officials and information obtrained through an open records request, which outline the past business practices of a member of (Raniero's). These practices include sales of alcohol to minors and noncompliance with other State ABC laws. 3) A petition received on December 16, 2016 from adjacent property owners stating their opposition to the issuance of a license to (Raniero's). 4) Noncompliance with NFPA Life Safety Codes, as outlined by the Fort Thomas Fire Department.
Raniero said that there are explanations for all of reasons outlined by the city of Fort Thomas and that many of the charges found in the background checks were made available to the local ABC office, which granted him a liquor license previously at his location in Cold Spring, Kentucky.

"The city of Fort Thomas lied to the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. It's just like applying for a job with past charges that have been dismissed, but they still try and use it against you," he said.

Raniero said that the weapons charge occurred when he was 18-years old while in Southgate, Kentucky and that he, now 30, has since been granted his concealed carry license which demonstrates that that charge should not have been considered.

He said that the burglary charge occurred during a family dispute at the previous Raniero's in Cold Spring, which had previously been a family business venture. "I forced my way into the restaurant and I could have sued the city of Cold Spring over it. The judge politely asked myself and my parents to dismiss the case without prejudice, which I agreed to."
Raniero said the active warrant dealt with his business partner, Lyle, who bought a boat in another state and simply forgot to get it registered in Kentucky.

"As far as serving alcohol to underage people, I don't know where they came up with that information. It's just highly wrong. I saw a guy on Fort Thomas Matters comments section say that as well, but he's definitely lying as well," he said.

As previously reported on Fort Thomas Matters and included in the denial letter, was the petition of ten residents on Overlook Drive, which adjoins the Fort Thomas Plaza.

That petition, in part read: "We adamantly oppose any alcohol or beer sales in the pool hall in Fort Thomas Plaza. We are concerned about the type of clientele that this will bring to our community."
Raniero said he also collected signatures from residents on the same street as part of his application process.

The one reason for denial that Raniero does not dispute was the noncompliance with the Life Safety Codes.

"Thank God I didn't put the emergency exits on the doors like they wanted me to, because that would have been another $500 I would have soaked into the business and the city had no intentions on giving me my beer license," he said.

There have also been some high profile business closures in Fort Thomas over the last year, but by all accounts, the businesses surrounding Raniero's in the Fort Thomas Plaza are all doing well. The plaza itself is at its highest occupancy rate in years. That aside, Raniero is convinced if he were granted the liquor license, he'd still be in business.

"The city put a bad look on our family name. We're going to close up and take legal action as far as we can and I believe we have a strong case here." Fort Thomas Matters reached out to the city of Fort Thomas for comment. City officials pointed to their reasoning for the denial within the public records, but declined to comment further.

22 comments:

Something is not quite right about that story. Two private parties can't just decide to dismiss a criminal case... that is for the Commonwealth's Attorney to decide. Also, it doesn't help him that the burglary charge is related to his former business. If this guy has an extensive criminal background but claims everything was dropped, there has to be more to the story.

There is, I used to live in the dorms right across the street from the old Renairos location. Once they were able to serve alcohol all I saw was freshman stumbling in drunk. So this guy is straight up lying about not selling alcohol to minors.

I have a local small business. When Ranieros was in Cold Spring, they did not pay for services we provided them. I even spoke to Michael Raniero regarding the bill and he still never paid. We had to write it off as a bad debt. Maybe Mr. Raniero should have paid his debts rather than paying to have hypocritical t-shirts made.

The business did not close because the city denied the liquor permit, it closed because the food wasn't good enough. You don't need beer and wine to sell pizza. Those things will make you more competitive but you have start with the food. Otherwise, you are just a bar that serves pizza instead of a restaurant with a bar.

You shouldn't comment when you know absolutely nothing! It was a family dispute that was later settled! Fort Thomas and majority of the people living there need to get the stick out of their ass and stop thinking they are better than everyone else! Fort Thomas absolutely does not support small business' unless you kiss the right people's asses! It is sad how people from Ft. Thomas act, treat and threaten others! Get out of your bubble and become a part of the real world!

The business didn't last in cold spring due to appalling service and horrible food quality. Forgetting to finish the previous application in the first location shows you how little they care. I agree ft thomas shuns the non-wealthy residents, but his business model and practices are a joke.

My wife drank at his old establishment underage all the time while she was in college. He knew. He also knew about all the other underage kids drinking there. He's a liar and a terrible business person. The city did the right thing. If you want to run a business do it the right way. This guy is what Ft Thomas has tried to avoid for years. That selectiveness makes it a safe community that people want to live in.

No, as someone who's lived in Fort Thomas my entire life, this city really is a small business killer. People in this town (including myself) would rather go to Hyde Park or Crestview Hills and spend money at the small businesses there. Until we start supporting this town, no small business is going to last.

There is plenty more to the story. A reputation has been developed and word travels. Whether or not exaggerated it is all true. That plaza has slowly come back to life I can't believe they were even allowed in there to begin with. That business does not blend well with what is already there and does not belong in Fort Thomas.

Seems like there's an excuse for every charge that was brought against the owner. Needless to say false or not, charges were brought against him and at the time was probably legitimate or the courts wouldn't have entertained the charge. All it takes is a crooked lawyer to get that dismissed. It seems like he's coming up with any excuse to sue and I just wonder how profitable his company really was and just to close up like that if his business was doing good he wouldn't have to close just because of a liquor license. If you want to run a legitimate business be on the up-and-up and have a clean record. Seems like it's not the city that has ruined your family name but you! I mean you even failed running your other company in Cold Springs too.

Sad part is the state of Kentucky was all for the license.....ft.thomas was not. Anyone that has ran a small business with a commercial lease, insurance, payroll, workmen's Comp knows you would not survive solely off "great" pizza. Too much over head and not enough business is the culprit. Good luck on future endeavors.